Radial compressor with two-piece cylinder housing and shell

Claim 2

A compressor comprising, an integral cylinder housing with four cross bores formed therein to intersect in a common plane, said cylinder housing including a front wall and an exterior rear wall, each of said walls generally radially extending beyond said bores and adapted to define an annular outer discharge space in communication with said bores, said front wall including a central opening therein, a central suction space within said housing in communication with said front wall opening and each of said cross bores, a suction port for directing return gas into the central suction space, means including a discharge port for directing discharge gas from said cross bores, said housing having spaces circumferentially between adjacent cylinder bores of the housing forming muffler cavities which are in communication with said discharge spaces but are sealed off by wall portions of the cylinder housing from said central suction space, a piston located in each of said cross bores, a bearing hub in said rear wall located centrally thereof, means forming a bearing housing located coaxially of said bearing hub and said front wall opening, a shaft having first and second journal portions thereon rotatably supported respectively in said bearing hub and said bearing housing, a shaft eccentric portion located in the same plane as each of said cross bores and in said central suction space, inclined intermediate shaft portions integrally connecting each of said shaft journal portions with said shaft eccentric portion for locating main shaft bearing points close to crank arm loads to reduce shaft moments, each of said inclined shaft portions having a connection surface thereon offset from the longitudinal axis of said first and second shaft journal portions, a first counterweight having a leg portion thereon located around one of said shaft journal portions, means for fixedly securing said first counterweight leg portion to the connection surface on one of said inclined shaft portions, said first counterweight having a radially outwardly located offset portion thereon located axially outwardly of said inclined shaft portion at a point radially outwardly of said bearing hub, a second counterweight having a leg portion thereon in engagement with the conNection sfrface on the other inclined shaft portion axially outwardly of the plane of each of said cross bores, means for securing said second counterweight leg portion to said lastmentioned connection surface, said second counterweight having a portion thereon located axially outwardly of said cylinder housing and radially outwardly of said bearing housing, drive means in said central suction space between said shaft eccentric portion and said pistons for causing reciprocation of said pistons within said cross bores upon rotation of said shaft, the jointure between said shaft eccentric portion and said drive means being in said central suction space and exposed to said return gas, said first and second counterweights serving to balance the inertia of said offset shaft eccentric portion and said drive means during operation of said compressor.

Claim 3

A compressor comprising a cylinder housing having four cross bores therein located in the same plane, a central suction space within said cylinder housing communicating with each of said cross bores, an integral rear wall closing said central suction space on one end of said cylinder housing, an integral front wall on the other end thereof, said front and rear walls extending generally radially and including respective peripheral portions formed continuously therearound, means forming a suction inlet in said rear wall, a plate located within each of said bores having the peripheral edge thereof in engagement with each of said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, an annular sheet metal closure member located in surrounding relationship to said cylinder housing having an inner surface thereon maintained in juxtaposed relationship with the surfaces of the continuously formed peripheral portions of said rear wall and said front wall, means for retaining said sheet metal closure member on said cylinder housing, means for sealing between said cylinder housing and said sheet metal closure member completely circumferentially therearound to define an annular high pressure discharge space formed radially outwardly of each of said cross bores and each of said cross bores communicating with said discharge space, said cylinder housing having circumferentially located radially inwardly formed wall cutouts therein in communication with said discharge space to define circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities between said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, said plate engaging the front and rear walls of said housing at said wall cutouts, means forming a discharge opening in said cylinder housing rear wall in communication with said high pressure discharge space for communicating each of said circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities with the outside of said compressor, a piston in each of said cross bores, means including an integral eccentrically offset rotary drive shaft in said central suction space for reciprocating each of said pistons within said cross bores, suction valve means on each of said pistons for drawing gas from said suction inlet through said suction space into each of said cross bores, discharge valve means on said plate for directing compressed gas from each of said cross bores into said annular high pressure discharge space.

Claim 4

A compressor comprising a cylinder housing having four cross bores therein located in the same plane, a central suction space within said cylinder housing communicating with each of said cross bores, an integral rear wall closing said central suction space on one end of said cylinder housing, an integral front wall on the other end thereof, said front and rear walls extending generally radially and including respective peripheral portions formed continuously therearound, means forming a suction inlet in said rear wall, a plate located within each of said bores having the peripheral edge thereof in engagement with each of said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, an annular sheet metal closure member located in surrounding relationship to said cylinder housing having an inner surface thereon maintained in juxtaposed relationship with the surfaces of the continuously formed peripheral portions of said rear wall and said front wall, means for retaining said sheet metal closure member on said cylinder housing, means for sealing between said cylinder housing and said sheet metal closure member completely circumferentially therearound to define an annular high pressure discharge space formed radially outwardly of each of said cross bores and each of said cross bores communicating with said discharge space, said cylinder housing having circumferentially located radially inwardly formed wall cutouts therein in communication with said discharge space to define circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities between said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, said plate engaging the front and rear walls of said housing at said wall cutouts, means forming a discharge opening in said cylinder housing rear wall in communication with said high pressure discharge space for communicating each of said circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities with the outside of said compressor, a piston in each of said cross bores, means including an integral eccentrically offset rotary drive shaft in said central suction space for reciprocating each of said pistons within said cross bores, suction valve means on each of said pistons for drawing gas from said suction inlet through said suction space into each of said cross bores, discharge valve means on said plate for directing compressed gas from each of said cross bores into said annular high pressure discharge space.

Claim 5

A compressor having an integral cylinder housing with four cross bores therein intersecting in a common plane, said cylinder housing having a centrally located suction cavity therein, an exterior rear cylinder wall closing one end of said central suction cavity, a front cylinder wall having a central opening therein, said rear cylinder wall having a centrally located inwardly directed axial hub thereon, a bore within said hub defining a first bearing, means defining a bearing housing located outwardly of said cylinder housing front wall including a bore therein defining a second bearing in alignment with said first bearing, an integral drive shaft having first and second journal portions thereon supported respectively in said first bore and said second bore, a shaFt portion between said first and second journal portions located eccentrically with respect thereto and in said central suction cavity, an inclined shaft portion on each end of said eccentric shaft portion integrally connecting it with said first and second shaft journal portions for reducing the width between said journal portions and to locate main shaft bearings close to crank arm loads to reduce shaft moments, a slider block having a central opening therein located coaxially of said eccentric shaft portion in said central suction cavity, a plurality of separately insertable elongated round needles supported between said slider block opening and said eccentric shaft portion in said central suction cavity for rotatably supporting said slider block on said eccentric shaft portion, said needles constituting the sole bearing means between said eccentric shaft portion and said slider block opening, a first needle retainer element supported on said eccentric shaft portion and overlying said slider block opening to prevent axial movement of said needles, a second needle retainer element supported on said eccentric shaft portion to prevent axial movement of said needles in an opposite axial direction, a piston in each of said cylinder bores, a first yoke including an elongated slot therein in surrounding relationship to one of said inclined shaft portions to permit rotation thereof with respect to said first yoke, said first yoke having opposite ends thereon located on one side of a first pair of said pistons, said first yoke having an inside surface thereon in engagement with said needle retainer element to maintain separation from said slider block, means for securing said opposite yoke ends to the stem portions on each of said pistons for joining said first pair of pistons for concurrent reciprocation within said bores, a second yoke having an inner surface thereon in engagement with said second needle retainer element, said second needle retainer element to maintain separation of said second yoke from said slider block, said second yoke including an elongated opening therein around said second shaft inclined portion to permit rotation thereof with respect to said second yoke, said second yoke having opposite ends thereon located on one side of a second pair of said pistons, means for securing said opposite ends of said second yoke to stems of said second pair of pistons to join said second pair of pistons for concurrent reciprocation within said bores, means for rotating said shaft to cause said slider block to move axially with respect to said pistons, means coupling said slider block with said pistons to cause opposite reciprocation thereof into and out of said bores, valve means on said pistons for drawing gas from said central suction cavity into one end of each of said cylinder bores, discharge valve means at the opposite end of said cylinder bores to direct compressed gas from each of said cylinder bores, means including an inlet opening to said central suction cavity for directing return gas thereto, and means including an outlet opening to said cylinder housing for receiving high pressure gas from each of said cylinder bore discharge valve means.

Claim 6

A compressor having an integral cylinder housing with four cross bores therein intersecting in a common plane, said cylinder housing having a centrally located suction cavity therein, an exterior rear cylinder wall closing one end of said central suction cavity, a front cylinder wall having a central opening therein, said rear cylinder wall having a centrally located inwardly directed axial hub thereon, a bore within said hub defining a first bearing, means defining a bearing housing located outwardly of said cylinder housing front wall including a bore therein defining a second bearing in alignment with said first bearing, an integral drive shaft having first and second journal portions thereon supported respectively in said first bore and said second bore, a shaFt portion between said first and second journal portions located eccentrically with respect thereto and in said central suction cavity, an inclined shaft portion on each end of said eccentric shaft portion integrally connecting it with said first and second shaft journal portions for reducing the width between said journal portions and to locate main shaft bearings close to crank arm loads to reduce shaft moments, a slider block having a central opening therein located coaxially of said eccentric shaft portion in said central suction cavity, a plurality of separately insertable elongated round needles supported between said slider block opening and said eccentric shaft portion in said central suction cavity for rotatably supporting said slider block on said eccentric shaft portion, said needles constituting the sole bearing means between said eccentric shaft portion and said slider block opening, a first needle retainer element supported on said eccentric shaft portion and overlying said slider block opening to prevent axial movement of said needles, a second needle retainer element supported on said eccentric shaft portion to prevent axial movement of said needles in an opposite axial direction, a piston in each of said cylinder bores, a first yoke including an elongated slot therein in surrounding relationship to one of said inclined shaft portions to permit rotation thereof with respect to said first yoke, said first yoke having opposite ends thereon located on one side of a first pair of said pistons, said first yoke having an inside surface thereon in engagement with said needle retainer element to maintain separation from said slider block, means for securing said opposite yoke ends to the stem portions on each of said pistons for joining said first pair of pistons for concurrent reciprocation within said bores, a second yoke having an inner surface thereon in engagement with said second needle retainer element, said second needle retainer element to maintain separation of said second yoke from said slider block, said second yoke including an elongated opening therein around said second shaft inclined portion to permit rotation thereof with respect to said second yoke, said second yoke having opposite ends thereon located on one side of a second pair of said pistons, means for securing said opposite ends of said second yoke to stems of said second pair of pistons to join said second pair of pistons for concurrent reciprocation within said bores, means for rotating said shaft to cause said slider block to move axially with respect to said pistons, means coupling said slider block with said pistons to cause opposite reciprocation thereof into and out of said bores, valve means on said pistons for drawing gas from said central suction cavity into one end of each of said cylinder bores, discharge valve means at the opposite end of said cylinder bores to direct compressed gas from each of said cylinder bores, means including an inlet opening to said central suction cavity for directing return gas thereto, and means including an outlet opening to said cylinder housing for receiving high pressure gas from each of said cylinder bore discharge valve means.

Claim 7

A compressor including an integral cylinder housing having four cross bores located therein and intersecting in a common plane, a central suction cavity within said cylinder housing in communication with each of said cross bores, said cylinder housing having a rear wall closing one end of said suction cavity, said cylinder housing having a front wall at the other end of said suction cavity with an opening therein, a suction inlet in said rear wall for directing return gas into said suction cavity centrally of said cylinder housing, a first bearing on said rear housing, means defining a second bearing located in alignment with said first bearing at a point centrally of the opening in said front wall, a shaft having first and second journal portions thereon supported by said first and second bearings for rotation with reSpect thereto, a piston in each of said cylinder bores, drive means within said central suction cavity for exposure to said return gas and connecting said shaft to each of said pistons for causing opposite reciprocation of each of said pistons within said cross bores upon rotation of said shaft, a sheet metal closure having an annular peripheral segment thereon overlying the outer periphery of said cylinder housing to close each of said cross bores therein, each of said cross bores having a rigid member supported therein for reinforcing the front wall of said cylinder housing, said sheet metal closure having a front surface thereon engaged with said front wall of said cylinder housing at the reinforced portion, a conical surface on said closure member directed outwardly of said cylinder housing including a radially inwardly directed central portion thereon, said means defining a second bearing having a housing portion thereon secured to said radially inwardly directed portion of said closure member, means for maintaining a sealed relationship between said front wall of said cylinder housing and said front surface of said closure member and to secure said closure member on said cylinder housing completely around the outer periphery of said cylinder housing, said cylinder housing having wall means thereon forming a plurality of cut outs therein at circumferentially located spots therearound between each of said cylinder bores to define a plurality of discharge muffler cavities, said cylinder housing and said closure member defining a space communicating each of said cylinder bores with said circumferentially spaced muffler cavities, said rigid reinforcing member reinforcing said housing at each of said cavities, said sheet metal closure member including an inner surface thereon formed continuously around said cylinder housing, an annular seal in said cylinder housing in engagement with inner surface of said closure member to seal between the rear wall of said cylinder housing and said closure member, said rear wall having a clamp surface thereon formed axially inwardly and continuously therearound, said sheet metal closure member having an edge portion thereon bent over and into engagement with said inclined clamp surface to force the front surface of said closure member against the front wall of said cylinder housing and to clamp the circumferential portion of said closure member in sealing engagement with said annular seal, said bent over edge portion connecting with said inwardly directed continuously formed clamp surface of said rear wall to prevent separation of said closure member from said cylinder housing upon pressurization of the chamber formed therebetween.

Claim 8

A compressor including an integral cylinder housing having four cross bores located therein and intersecting in a common plane, a central suction cavity within said cylinder housing in communication with each of said cross bores, said cylinder housing having a rear wall closing one end of said suction cavity, said cylinder housing having a front wall at the other end of said suction cavity with an opening therein, a suction inlet in said rear wall for directing return gas into said suction cavity centrally of said cylinder housing, a first bearing on said rear housing, means defining a second bearing located in alignment with said first bearing at a point centrally of the opening in said front wall, a shaft having first and second journal portions thereon supported by said first and second bearings for rotation with reSpect thereto, a piston in each of said cylinder bores, drive means within said central suction cavity for exposure to said return gas and connecting said shaft to each of said pistons for causing opposite reciprocation of each of said pistons within said cross bores upon rotation of said shaft, a sheet metal closure having an annular peripheral segment thereon overlying the outer periphery of said cylinder housing to close each of said cross bores therein, each of said cross bores having a rigid member supported therein for reinforcing the front wall of said cylinder housing, said sheet metal closure having a front surface thereon engaged with said front wall of said cylinder housing at the reinforced portion, a conical surface on said closure member directed outwardly of said cylinder housing including a radially inwardly directed central portion thereon, said means defining a second bearing having a housing portion thereon secured to said radially inwardly directed portion of said closure member, means for maintaining a sealed relationship between said front wall of said cylinder housing and said front surface of said closure member and to secure said closure member on said cylinder housing completely around the outer periphery of said cylinder housing, said cylinder housing having wall means thereon forming a plurality of cut outs therein at circumferentially located spots therearound between each of said cylinder bores to define a plurality of discharge muffler cavities, said cylinder housing and said closure member defining a space communicating each of said cylinder bores with said circumferentially spaced muffler cavities, said rigid reinforcing member reinforcing said housing at each of said cavities, said sheet metal closure member including an inner surface thereon formed continuously around said cylinder housing, an annular seal in said cylinder housing in engagement with inner surface of said closure member to seal between the rear wall of said cylinder housing and said closure member, said rear wall having a clamp surface thereon formed axially inwardly and continuously therearound, said sheet metal closure member having an edge portion thereon bent over and into engagement with said inclined clamp surface to force the front surface of said closure member against the front wall of said cylinder housing and to clamp the circumferential portion of said closure member in sealing engagement with said annular seal, said bent over edge portion connecting with said inwardly directed continuously formed clamp surface of said rear wall to prevent separation of said closure member from said cylinder housing upon pressurization of the chamber formed therebetween.

Claim 9

A compressor for an automotive refrigeration system adapted to be operated at speeds up to 3000 revolutions per minute comprising a rigid cast single piece cylinder housing having generally circular front and rear walls defining therebetween four cross bores intersecting in a common plane, a central low pressure suction space within said cylinder housing communcating with each of said cross bores, said rear wall closing said central suction space on one end of said cylinder housing, means for closing said central suction space at the other end of said cylinder housing, means forming a suction port in said rear wall in communication with said suction space and adapted for connection with said refrigeration system, a retainer plate located within each of said bores and having the peripheral edge thereof in engagement with each of said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, an annular sheet metal closure member located in surrounding relationship to said cylinder housing having an inner surface thereon in engagement with the outer periphery of said rear wall and said front wall, means for retaining said sheet metal closure member on said cylinder housing, means for sealing between said cylinder housing and said sheet metal closure member at their said engagement completely circumferentially therearound To define an annular high pressure discharge space formed radially outwardly of each of said cross bores, each of said cross bores communicating with said discharge space through its respective retainer plate, said cylinder housing having circumferentially located radially inwardly formed wall cutouts therein in communication with said discharge space to define circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities between said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing and between adjacent cylinder bores, each of said retainer plates engaging said housing at said wall cutouts to separate each of said cross bores from said discharge space at the point of communication therebetween, means forming a discharge port in said rear wall in communication with said discharge space and adapted for connection with said refrigeration system for placing all of said circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities in communication with said refrigeration system, piston means slidably supported by the inner surface of each of said cross bores, means including a bearing mounting in communication with said central suction space for reciprocating each of said piston means within its respective cross bore throughout the sliding movement of each of said piston means when said compressor is operated at said speeds up to 3000 revolutions per minute, suction valve means supported on each of said piston means for drawing low pressure gas from said suction port through said suction space into each of said cross bores, discharge valve means supported on each of said retainer plates for directing compressed high pressure gas from each of said cross bores into said annular high pressure discharge space.

Claim 10

A compressor for an automotive refrigeration system adapted to be operated at speeds up to 3000 revolutions per minute comprising a rigid cast single piece cylinder housing having generally circular front and rear walls defining therebetween four cross bores intersecting in a common plane, a central low pressure suction space within said cylinder housing communcating with each of said cross bores, said rear wall closing said central suction space on one end of said cylinder housing, means for closing said central suction space at the other end of said cylinder housing, means forming a suction port in said rear wall in communication with said suction space and adapted for connection with said refrigeration system, a retainer plate located within each of said bores and having the peripheral edge thereof in engagement with each of said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, an annular sheet metal closure member located in surrounding relationship to said cylinder housing having an inner surface thereon in engagement with the outer periphery of said rear wall and said front wall, means for retaining said sheet metal closure member on said cylinder housing, means for sealing between said cylinder housing and said sheet metal closure member at their said engagement completely circumferentially therearound To define an annular high pressure discharge space formed radially outwardly of each of said cross bores, each of said cross bores communicating with said discharge space through its respective retainer plate, said cylinder housing having circumferentially located radially inwardly formed wall cutouts therein in communication with said discharge space to define circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities between said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing and between adjacent cylinder bores, each of said retainer plates engaging said housing at said wall cutouts to separate each of said cross bores from said discharge space at the point of communication therebetween, means forming a discharge port in said rear wall in communication with said discharge space and adapted for connection with said refrigeration system for placing all of said circumferentially spaced discharge muffler cavities in communication with said refrigeration system, piston means slidably supported by the inner surface of each of said cross bores, means including a bearing mounting in communication with said central suction space for reciprocating each of said piston means within its respective cross bore throughout the sliding movement of each of said piston means when said compressor is operated at said speeds up to 3000 revolutions per minute, suction valve means supported on each of said piston means for drawing low pressure gas from said suction port through said suction space into each of said cross bores, discharge valve means supported on each of said retainer plates for directing compressed high pressure gas from each of said cross bores into said annular high pressure discharge space.

Claim 11

A compressor comprising a rigid cast single piece cylinder housing with four cross bores formed in intersecting relation in a common plane therein between generally radially extending front and rear walls of the housing that include respective peripheral portions formed continuously therearound, said front wall including a central opening therein, a central suction space within said housing in communication with said front wall opening and each of said cross bores, a suction port in said rear wall for directing return gas into the central suction space, means including a discharge port in said rear wall for directing discharge gas from said cross bores, a piston located in each of said cross bores, a bearing hub in said rear wall located centrall thereof and in communication with said central suction space by lubricant bleed passageway means, means forming a bearing housing located coaxially of said bearing hub and said front wall opening and in communication with said central suction space by lubricant bleed passageway means, a shaft having generally solid first and second journal portions thereon rotatably supported respectively in said bearing hub and said bearing housing, a shaft eccentric portion located in the same plane as each of said cross bores and in said central suction space, inclined intermediate shaft portions located in the same plane as each of said cross bores and integrally connecting each of said shaft journal portions with said shaft eccentric portion for locating main shaft bearing points close to crank arm loads to reduce shaft moments, each of said inclined shaft portions having a connection surface thereon offset from the longitudinal axis of said first and second shaft journal portions, a first counterweight having a leg portion thereon in engagement with the connection surface on one of said inclined shaft portions, means for fixedly securing said first counterweight leg portion to said connection surface thereof, said first counterweight having a radially outwardly located offset portion thereon located axially outwardly of said one of said inclined shaft portions at a point radially outwardly of said bearing hub, a second counterweight having a leg portion thereon in engagement with the connection surface on the other inclined shaft portion, means for fixedly Securing said second counterweight leg portion to said last-mentioned connection surface, said second counter-weight having a radially outwardly located offset portion thereon located axially outwardly of said other inclined shaft portion at a point radially outwardly of said bearing housing, drive means in said central suction space between said shaft eccentric portion and said pistons for causing reciprocation of said pistons within said cross bores upon rotation of said shaft, the jointure between said shaft eccentric portion and said drive means being in said central suction space and exposed to said return gas, said first and second counterweights serving to balance the inertia of said offset shaft eccentric portion and said inclined intermediate shaft portions and said drive means during operation of said compressor.

Claim 12

A compressor comprising a rigid cast single piece cylinder housing with four cross bores formed in intersecting relation in a common plane therein between generally radially extending front and rear walls of the housing that include respective peripheral portions formed continuously therearound, said front wall including a central opening therein, a central suction space within said housing in communication with said front wall opening and each of said cross bores, a suction port in said rear wall for directing return gas into the central suction space, means including a discharge port in said rear wall for directing discharge gas from said cross bores, a piston located in each of said cross bores, a bearing hub in said rear wall located centrall thereof and in communication with said central suction space by lubricant bleed passageway means, means forming a bearing housing located coaxially of said bearing hub and said front wall opening and in communication with said central suction space by lubricant bleed passageway means, a shaft having generally solid first and second journal portions thereon rotatably supported respectively in said bearing hub and said bearing housing, a shaft eccentric portion located in the same plane as each of said cross bores and in said central suction space, inclined intermediate shaft portions located in the same plane as each of said cross bores and integrally connecting each of said shaft journal portions with said shaft eccentric portion for locating main shaft bearing points close to crank arm loads to reduce shaft moments, each of said inclined shaft portions having a connection surface thereon offset from the longitudinal axis of said first and second shaft journal portions, a first counterweight having a leg portion thereon in engagement with the connection surface on one of said inclined shaft portions, means for fixedly securing said first counterweight leg portion to said connection surface thereof, said first counterweight having a radially outwardly located offset portion thereon located axially outwardly of said one of said inclined shaft portions at a point radially outwardly of said bearing hub, a second counterweight having a leg portion thereon in engagement with the connection surface on the other inclined shaft portion, means for fixedly Securing said second counterweight leg portion to said last-mentioned connection surface, said second counter-weight having a radially outwardly located offset portion thereon located axially outwardly of said other inclined shaft portion at a point radially outwardly of said bearing housing, drive means in said central suction space between said shaft eccentric portion and said pistons for causing reciprocation of said pistons within said cross bores upon rotation of said shaft, the jointure between said shaft eccentric portion and said drive means being in said central suction space and exposed to said return gas, said first and second counterweights serving to balance the inertia of said offset shaft eccentric portion and said inclined intermediate shaft portions and said drive means during operation of said compressor.

Claim 13

The compressor of claim 6 wherein said jointure contains a plurality of separately insertable needles engageable on one side thereof with said shaft eccentric portion and engageable on the other side thereof with said drive means, said needles constituting the sole bearing means between said eccentric portion and said drive means.

Claim 14

A radial compressor comprising a rigid cast single-piece cylinder housing having four cross bores which are disposed in radial cylinder portions of the housing and intersect in a common plane between generally radially extending front and exterior rear walls of the housing that include respective peripheral portions formed continuously theraround, said housing having discharge regions at the radially outer ends of the respective cross bores and a central suction space in communication with the radially inner ends of said respective cross bores, said central suction space being defined on one side by the rear wall of said housing and on the other side by a central opening in the front wall of said housing, said housing having spaces circumferentially between adjacent cylinder portions of the housing forming muffler cavities which are in communication with said discharge regions but are sealed off by wall portions of the cylinder housing from said central suction space, an exterior annular sheet metal closure member retained on the cylinder housing in a position surrounding the cross bores and having an inner surface maintained in sealing relationship with surfaces of the continuously formed peripheral portions of the front and rear walls of the cylinder housing to thereby define an annular high pressure discharge space disposed radially outwardly of the cross bores and in communication with said discharge regions of the cross bores and with said muffler cavities, a generally annular bearing support member closing said central opening in the front wall and forming, in conjunction with a bearing hub that is formed centrally in the rear wall and integral therewith, a bearing mounting for a rotary drive shaft in communication with said central suction space, a plurality of apertured pistons slidably mounted within the respective cross bores, a rotary drive shaft in said bearing mounting adapted to effect reciprocation of said pistons within said respective cross bores, an apertured rigid valve plate located within each of the cross bores radially outwardly of the respective piston, with a peripheral edge of each valve plate in engagement with the front and rear walls of the cylinder housing, an intake aperture extending to the central suction space of the cylinder housing, an intake valve on each of the pistons effective, on reciprocation of the piston, to allow gas to pass from the central suction space into a compressive space within the cross bore between the respective piston and valve plate, a discharge valve on each of the valve plates effective, on reciprocation of the respective piston, to supply compressed gas from the respective compressive space to the annular high pressure discharge space, and a discharge aperture extending from the annular high pressure discharge space of the cylinder housing to the outside of the coMpressor.

Claim 15

A radial compressor comprising a rigid cast single-piece cylinder housing having four cross bores which are disposed in radial cylinder portions of the housing and intersect in a common plane between generally radially extending front and exterior rear walls of the housing that include respective peripheral portions formed continuously theraround, said housing having discharge regions at the radially outer ends of the respective cross bores and a central suction space in communication with the radially inner ends of said respective cross bores, said central suction space being defined on one side by the rear wall of said housing and on the other side by a central opening in the front wall of said housing, said housing having spaces circumferentially between adjacent cylinder portions of the housing forming muffler cavities which are in communication with said discharge regions but are sealed off by wall portions of the cylinder housing from said central suction space, an exterior annular sheet metal closure member retained on the cylinder housing in a position surrounding the cross bores and having an inner surface maintained in sealing relationship with surfaces of the continuously formed peripheral portions of the front and rear walls of the cylinder housing to thereby define an annular high pressure discharge space disposed radially outwardly of the cross bores and in communication with said discharge regions of the cross bores and with said muffler cavities, a generally annular bearing support member closing said central opening in the front wall and forming, in conjunction with a bearing hub that is formed centrally in the rear wall and integral therewith, a bearing mounting for a rotary drive shaft in communication with said central suction space, a plurality of apertured pistons slidably mounted within the respective cross bores, a rotary drive shaft in said bearing mounting adapted to effect reciprocation of said pistons within said respective cross bores, an apertured rigid valve plate located within each of the cross bores radially outwardly of the respective piston, with a peripheral edge of each valve plate in engagement with the front and rear walls of the cylinder housing, an intake aperture extending to the central suction space of the cylinder housing, an intake valve on each of the pistons effective, on reciprocation of the piston, to allow gas to pass from the central suction space into a compressive space within the cross bore between the respective piston and valve plate, a discharge valve on each of the valve plates effective, on reciprocation of the respective piston, to supply compressed gas from the respective compressive space to the annular high pressure discharge space, and a discharge aperture extending from the annular high pressure discharge space of the cylinder housing to the outside of the coMpressor.

Claim 16

The radial compressor of claim 8 wherein said intake aperture and said discharge aperture extend through said rear wall.

Claim 17

The radial compressor of claim 8 wherein the adaptation of said rotary drive shaft to effect reciprocation of said pistons includes as integral portions of the shaft two inclined shaft portions with a shaft eccentric portion therebetween, a slider block having a bore around said eccentric portion, a plurality of separately insertable needles between and in engagement with the outer periphery of said eccentric portion and the bore of said slider block and needle retainer means to prevent said needles from moving axially outwardly of the bore of said slider block, said needles constituting the sole bearing means between said eccentric portion and the bore of said slider block.

Claim 18

The compressor of claim 10 wherein the front to rear length thereof from said bearing support member to the rear wall of said cylinder housing is substantially equal to the width and height of said compressor at the peripheral portions of said front and rear walls of said cylinder housing, thereby to provide a highly compact cubical configuration for said compressor.